Apex Counseling

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Secretary Blinken remarks on the release of the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report - 11:00 AM Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivers remarks on the release of the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report at the Department of State, on June 24, 2024.-...

🌟 Exciting News & Upcoming Changes at Apex Counseling 🌟

Hello everyone! I have some important updates to share about our summer schedule and some amazing opportunities for growth that will temporarily affect our session availability.

📅 Upcoming Office Closures:

• May 24 to June 17: I will be completing my doctoral residency, a crucial step in enhancing the services we provide.
• June 24 to July 15: I’m honored to speak at the International Cultic Studies Association Conference in Barcelona, where I will gain and share valuable insights.
• August: I’ll be on sabbatical to secure full licensure and prepare our new in-person locations. This is also a time to expand our team to better serve you!

These milestones are not just about growth; they’re also about self-care and ensuring I can provide the highest level of care to all of you. We’re excited for what’s ahead and deeply appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate these changes.

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, thank you for being a part of our community. Here’s to growing and improving together! 🌱

💬 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need additional support during these times.

BALANCE II

PROCEDURE
Draw and/ or list things that create stress in their life on one side of the circle and draw and/or list stress-reducing techniques on the other.

DISCUSSION
Examine the stressors presented and explore methods
to reduce them. Share techniques to lessen anxiety. For example, discuss how transforming negative thinking into positive thinking can turn negative experiences into more positive ones. Examine how you can become more resourceful and learn to view a variety of experiences more optimistically and constructively. Discuss the importance of balance in one's life and examine methods to create a balanced lifestyle.

TINY VICTORIES
PROCEDURES
Fold your paper in fourths and fill in the squares with small achievements. Examples may include learning how to cook or sew, getting a driver's license, or learning new coping techniques to help decrease anxiety.
DISCUSSION
Share your victories and associated feelings. Discuss the importance of acknowledging good work; emphasize, "Small successes are significant."
GOALS
Increase self-esteem and focus on strengths.

RE-CHARGE

PROCEDURE
Draw how you "re-charge" (the way you gain energy and improve their attitude). For example, do you walk, exercise, meditate, get a good night's sleep or swim?

DISCUSSION
Share how your drawing and symbols represent renewal.

GOAL
Explore methods to energize and inspire.

Overcoming anxiety involves learning to manage feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear in a healthy way. Some steps to help overcome anxiety include:

Identifying triggers: Understanding what situations or events trigger your anxiety can help you better prepare for and manage them.

Practicing relaxation techniques: Techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness can help calm your body and mind.

Exercise: Regular physical activity has been shown to help reduce anxiety symptoms.

Sleep hygiene: Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and creating a relaxing bedtime routine can help improve your sleep quality and reduce anxiety.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of therapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety.

Medication: In some cases, medication prescribed by a doctor may be recommended to help manage symptoms of anxiety.

Remember that overcoming anxiety takes time and patience. It's important to be kind and gentle with yourself as you work on managing your anxiety. Seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional can also be helpful.

JOYFUL ENVIRONMENT

PROCEDURE:

Create a positive environment surrounding the figure. Magazine photos, sketches, colors and shapes, and words and phrases may be incorporated into the environment. You may include hearts, flowers, trees, animals, and people they adore.

DISCUSSION:

Share how the figure reflects you and how the presented environment represents your life now or how you would like it to be. You are encouraged to explore and assess the love and happiness in your life and to be grateful for what you experience daily.

STOPP
What is the healthiest way for you to handle the situation?

S-Stop and Step Back: Try not to act on impulse; assess the situation.
T-Take a Breath: Take a Breath and think about your feelings and reactions to what is occurring.
O-Observe Try to see the whole picture and put things into perspective.
P-Pull Back: Think about whether your feelings are facts or your individual assessment (personal bias) of the situation. Remember, feelings are not necessarily facts. "If you don't ask, you don't know."
P-Practice what works: Explore what is the best course of action.

We all have been known to "give good face," as my teens say. Today, let us practice showing our true selves.

DIRECTIONS
On the outer part of the mask, write or draw aspects of yourself and your personality that you may like to show off or willingly reveal to the outside world.

On the inside of the mask, write or draw aspects of yourself and your personality that you may hide or feel ashamed of. Include parts of yourself that we may not know about you.

GOALS
Create more opportunities to be seen as your fully integrated self with all the "seen and hidden" parts revealed in a safe environment. Share how your experience went.

Decorate the bucket and fill it in with
color. The amount of color you use to
fill it will represent your degree of self-esteem.

ANSWER QUESTIONS AFTER COMPLETING THE PROJECT:

Is your bucket full, half full, moderately full, or empty?
Are there holes in the bucket? If so, how many? What could the holes mean in terms of self-esteem?
Were there fewer holes in the past?
Is there a way to patch the holes?

The holes can relate to the loss of self-esteem.
Reflect on your feelings of self-worth.

GOALS:
Identify reasons for poor self-esteem and explore ways to increase it.

Take time to examine your stress and prepare helpful techniques to reduce stress. Here are some ideas!

Self-care plays a huge part in self-esteem, "Taking care of oneself physically and emotionally is a sign that you respect yourself and feel worthy. It shows that you want to live a healthy and satisfying life and are willing to make sacrifices to do just that".

- Susan Buchalter